A security camera captured the moment when a man attempted to snatch a cell phone from a person who was standing by the window of their home during the night, amidst a blackout in Camagüey.
The video, shared on Facebook by the user Eduardo Enrique Hernández Valdés, was accompanied by the message: "Attempted cell phone theft yesterday at 11:30 PM (Camagüey, Cuba)." The images, captured by a security camera, show the front of a house and the moment the attempted robbery takes place.
The recording shows a man arriving on a bicycle, stopping a few steps from the property, and before approaching, putting on a balaclava that he had kept in a bag. He then quietly moves toward the window, where the person holds a mobile phone without noticing his presence.
The suspect tries to snatch the cell phone from the victim, but the victim resists, and they struggle for several seconds. Finally, the man flees the scene.
It is unclear whether the thief managed to take the phone. While one comment on the post claims that he escaped with the device, other users assert that the person was able to prevent the theft.
One of the aspects that caught the most attention among those who commented on the video was the apparent planning of the assault. "But they noticed that he had the hood in his bag; a sign that he's into this. No words, Cuba is getting worse every day," wrote an internet user.
Another user claimed that the same modus operandi was seen that same night in another area of the city: "Last night they were doing the same thing on bicycles in Agramonte."
Many comments also pointed to the circumstances that force numerous Cubans to stay near doors and windows during the night. "Between the blackouts and the lack of connection, people try to find a place where they can get coverage and a little fresh air. You’re not even safe in your own home," summarized an internet user.
The scene reflects an increasingly common reality on the island. The prolonged energy crisis forces thousands of people to step out onto the porch, balcony, or windows to enjoy the breeze or find a mobile phone and internet signal when telecommunications fail.
As August began, Cuba experienced its sixth total collapse of the National Electric System (SEN) so far in 2026, when the Electric Union (UNE) confirmed on its Facebook page that a total disconnection of the country's power grid occurred at 10:43 PM on Sunday, August 2.
In July 2026 alone, the SEN experienced at least three total outages, with interruptions lasting between 48 and 72 hours in several provinces. In Camagüey, during June, blackouts exceeded 20 hours a day and the city went more than four days without television signal.
The impacts also extend to communications. ETECSA reported that during the major blackouts, up to 56.5% of its telecommunications cabinets go out of service, forcing many users to move or stay in exposed areas to try to catch a signal.
The increase in insecurity is becoming a growing concern for Cubans. By August 2024, there had already been reports of thefts in homes taking advantage of open windows during nighttime blackouts.
In Camagüey, criminal incidents have also become increasingly visible in recent months. On July 26, neighbors apprehended a man who was supposedly stealing solar panels by jumping from rooftop to rooftop, while in April a woman was seriously injured after being attacked with a knife near the Train Terminal.
At the national level, the Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory (OCAC) documented 2,833 verified crimes in 2025, a 115% increase compared to 2024 and a 337% rise from 2023. Theft topped the list, with 1,536 cases recorded.
"Not even at home can one feel safe in this country, where human misery grows in tandem, or even more, than the cost of living," wrote a user in the post, a reflection that encapsulates the sentiment expressed by many Cubans following the release of the video.
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